Vessel of Hatred: Difference between revisions

{{PAGENAME}} is the first Expansion Pack for Diablo 4 and is due to be released late in 2024. It was announced at Blizzcon on 3rd October 2023.

 

At this point, confirmed information is thin on the ground however what Blizzard has announced corroborates datamined information.<ref name="datamine">[https://www.purediablo.com/diablo-4-loh-expansion-at-blizzcon-2023-or-not Vessle of Hatred Datamined - Gazerrick]</ref> That doesn't mean that all that has been ripped from the game files will appear in VoH.

At the end of Diablo 4, the Wanderer (you) and the young scholar Neyrelle, arrive at the Cathedral of Hatred to capture [[Lilith]] in the Soulstone that Donan, a member of the Horadrim, has created.  However, Neyrelle, believing Mephisto to be the greater threat, captures his essence instead.  Before Lilith arrives Neyrelle leaves the Cathedral through a red portal and at some point returns to the Horadric Vault ([https://diablo4.purediablo.com/map/#id=6bf97aad-02d5-49ce-b601-f3ec36b80733 Map]) in the Mistral Woods where she pens a goodbye letter to Lorath (the last remaining Horadrim) explaining her departure and intention to take care of the Mephisto problem herself.  Meanwhile, the Wanderer has vanquished Lilith reducing her to ash, presumably never to be seen again.   

In the epilogue, Neyrelle travels west across The [[Fractured Peaks]] and deserts of [[Kehjistan]] to Kurast docks where she boards a boat and sets sail across the Twin Seas to the western continent of Sanctuary, Mephisto Soulstone in hand and shadowed by the bloodied wolf.

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File:Neyrelle captures Mephisto.jpg| Neyrelle captures Mephisto's essence in the newly created Soulstone in the Cathedral of Hatred  

Blizzard has confirmed that our journey in Vessel of Hatred will take us to the southern coast of the western isles, south of Gea Kul ([https://diablo4.purediablo.com/map/#id=0462897b-5adc-4bd1-ad6e-af4ace8e9f2f Map]) and Zarbinzet ([https://diablo4.purediablo.com/map/#id=71d5c5d9-5bdd-44e3-a8a7-016a1ff72de0 Map]).  We will begin the adventure at River Gate, previously closed off from the rest of Sanctuary for the past several decades, as well as from Lilith’s influence.  However, Kurast and its docks, last visited in Diablo 2, will serve as the central hub.  Travincal and its subterranean areas will also play their part.

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The geography of the land is quite varied, from the thick flora and fauna of the Torajan Jungles (think Flayer Jungle in Diablo 2) to the barren expanse of the Teganze Plateau. It is also home to the Field of Giants as well as the dark, dank depths of the Kurast Sewers.

Beyond that, to the western portion of this region, there has been no mention so we do not know if Vessel of Hatred is confined to just the eastern portion.

[[File:Diablo Franchise Release Timeline and Act Locations.jpg|alt=Diablo Timeline and Act Locations|center|thumb|Diablo Franchise Release Timeline and where Acts in each game and expansion pack have focussed|700x700px]]

One area that appears in Diablo 4 but in nametag only is The Lost City of Ureh.  This place has never appeared in a Diablo game, however, it was intended to be a location in Diablo 3 and made a fleeting appearance in that game's announcement video. <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2TpNQhfkp4&t=56&ab_channel=Wacraft3Archive Diablo 4 official announcement cinematic.]</ref> It has only appeared in the Diablo novel ''The Kingdom of Shadow'' (Buy [https://amzn.to/3RA9Ido US] - [https://amzn.to/4arHnh0 UK]).  It hasn't featured in Diablo 4 but we have been within spitting distance of it and in fact, the steps to it are merely blocked. For now.  It may well not feature in Vessel of Hatred but it's opening up at some point.

[[File:The_City_of_Ureh.jpg|center|800x800px|The once spectacular City of Ureh.|alt=The once spectacular City of Ureh.|thumb]]

[[File:Location of The Lost City of Ureh in Diablo 4.jpg|center|800x800px|The site of the City of Ureh is just north of Zarbinzet.|alt=The site of the City of Ureh is just north of Zarbinzet.|thumb]]

[[File:Steps up to The Lost City of Ureh.jpg|center|800x800px|Steps up to The Lost City of Ureh are blocked in Diablo 4.|alt=Steps up to The Lost City of Ureh are blocked in Diablo 4.|thumb]]

Blizzard deliberated whether to reintroduce a classic class from the past or to offer something new. Ultimately they decided to go with something completely new to the game series but they haven't provided any specifics.

The information datamined <ref name="datamine">[https://www.purediablo.com/diablo-4-loh-expansion-at-blizzcon-2023-or-not Vessle of Hatred Datamined - Gazerrick]</ref>  from the game files mentions a Spiritborn, a class said to be deeply rooted in the elements of nature and the spiritual realm.  Tapping into two resources: Vigor and Alliegance to fuel physical vitality and endurance and, through their spirit connection to nature, call upon spirits of nature to aid them.

Given that in Vessel of Hatred we will be venturing into the Teganze jungles where Torajan, (home of Witch Doctor), is located you could be forgiven for putting money on that being the new class however the one piece of concrete information we have from Blizzard on the next class is:

<bluepost>This new class will <span class='white'>not</span> be a Witch Doctor.</bluepost>

So put a pin in that, for now.

<blockquote>I spent a lot of time learning this code, so I hope you remember how to read it, Lorath.  Because you are the last Horadrim now.

My mother would have wanted me to stay with you. She believed the Horadrim had all the answers.  I don't know if she'd recognise this person I'm becoming. It's hard for me to think about her right now. But then I remember you and Donan. You weren't "all-knowing Horadrim." You were bitter. You were uncertain.  But you were always true friends. That's what I hold onto because there is so much further to go.  Your imperfection gave me hope. And we will need it to face what comes next.  To face him...and his brothers.

I don't know how much time I have, but there has to be a better answer.  And I have to find it. Alone.  I know you want to go with me but people have already died because I was not careful enough. I can't risk you too.

Whilst Blizzard hasn't elaborated more than this in regards to Vessel of Hatred the compendium released in June of 2023, [https://amzn.to/4a7JS7O| ''Diablo: The Book of Lorath''] picks up the story after Neyrelle sets off across the Twin Seas.  

In order to protect such valuable wisdom Lorath hunts down certain relics and transfers their powers to special glyphs he creates that he places at the beginning and end of the tome thereby protecting all text in between. He explains in the book why he chose this way.

 

<blockquote>I know the spell I crafted is unconventional. I know there were and are more traditional wards available. I don't want to keep doing what has already been done. That can only achieve the results we have already obtained. Wards and Soulstones will inevitably break. Vaults will be opened. Libraries will be burned or seized. Codes will be deciphered.

To those with demonic or dark intent, its contents will be incomprehensible, impenetrable, inviolable. That means if you are reading this, you have been judged worthy by the magic I have put in place.</blockquote>

As Lorath snakes his way across Sanctuary he finds signs Neyrelle has passed that way and her constant struggle to resist the Lord of Hatred is all too apparent.  In her wake, she leaves chaos, violence and hatred and so it appears she is losing herself to his malevolent visions.  In a letter to Lorath she left with the ship's captain in Kurast it's evident she's aware of Mephisto's influence on her.

<blockquote>The book is for Neyrelle, and it must be finished and ready for her. If not her, it must be ready for others. Though I must believe it is for her. This last stage of my journey is the riskiest – not for myself, but for the book. If this fails, then everything I have done, all the miles I have travelled and the worlds I have written, will have been for nought. At times like this, I wish I prayed.</blockquote>

He presses on northeast, to the island of Xiansai.  Deckard Cain had said the mountains of Xiansai are littered with arcane repositories and so it's here Lorath hopes to locate a spell or device that will enable him to craft the magical glyphs to protect this tome.

So, where is Neyrelle now?  After leaving the Monastery she has deteriorated significantly compared to earlier in the book. Clearly, she's not yet equipped to resist but will Lorath find her in time or will his search prove to be an exercise in futility?  If he does can he even save her or will Mephisto have overpowered his vessel? Afterall, Mephisto broke free of the last Soulstone that contained his essence and as he is reportedly the cleverest of the Prime Evil his capture in the stone could be part of his plan all along.

[[File:The-book-of-lorath-map.jpg|The Book of Lorath routes for Lorath and Neyrelle|center|frameless|1000x1000px]]

==Where do we fit in? ==

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